Optical molding apparatus

ABSTRACT

An optical molding apparatus for obtaining a three-dimensional resin model by scanning a surface of a photocurable resin liquid held in a photocurable resin liquid tank by a light beam to cure the same and successively building up the scanned and cured layers on an elevator. When the molding of one constant-height section layer is ended and the elevator is made to descend, the overflow of the photocurable resin liquid from the photocurable resin liquid tank to an overflow tank is temporarily blocked and then after the blocking of the overflow is lifted, the next constant-height section layer is molded.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/215,375, filed Mar. 21,1994.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical molding process and anoptical molding apparatus which mold a desired resin model by scanningand irradiating a photocurable resin such as an ultraviolet lightcurable resin by a light beam, and more particularly relates to anoptical molding process and an optical molding apparatus which quicklyreturns the level of the liquid surface of the photocurable resin liquidcontained in the photocurable resin liquid tank to a constant level soas to shorten the molding time and improve the molding precision.

2. Description of the Related Art

An attempt has been made, for example, to mold a desired resin model byscanning the surface of a tank containing an ultraviolet light curableresin liquid with an ultraviolet light laser, while turning it on andoff, so as to cure the same and successively building up scanned andcured layers on an elevator. This resin model is used as a master modelfor other products, for example, so during molding it is necessary toimprove the molding precision, the interlayer bonding, and the moldingefficiency.

The conventional optical molding process, as shown in FIG. 1, involvedgenerating an ultraviolet light beam 5 from an ultraviolet light laser4, using an optical system having galvanomirrors and shutters etc. toturn the ultraviolet light laser on and off and control the scanningdirection of the beam, and while doing so irradiate the surface of thetank 1 containing an ultraviolet light curable resin liquid 2. In thetank was provided an elevator 8 which blocked the ultraviolet lightlaser and could be made to ascend and descend. The resin liquid presentbetween the surface 3 of the resin liquid and the elevator 8 was curedby the ultraviolet light laser beam 5.

In the first step of the molding process, the elevator 8 is made toascend and the resin liquid 2 present between the resin liquid surface 3and the elevator 8 is cured by the ultraviolet light laser beam 5 toform an n-th scanned and cured layer 7a, then the elevator 8 is made todescend and the same procedure as with the n-th layer is followed toform an (n+1)th scanned and cured layer 7b on the n-th scanned and curedlayer 7a. The same procedure is followed so as to successively build up(hereinafter also referred to as "deposit") scanned and cured layers.When the final scanned and cured layer finishes being formed, theelevator 8 is made to ascend and the model 9 is taken out from the resinliquid, then final curing is performed by using an ultraviolet lightlamp etc. to irradiate the entire model with ultraviolet light over along period.

Below, in the present invention, planes at identical pitches of movementof the elevator are referred to as "constant-height sections". In oneconstant-height section, there will be regions for curing the resinliquid and regions for not curing the resin liquid in accordance withthe three-dimensional shape of the desired model.

The ultraviolet light beam generated by the ultraviolet light laseroscillator is used for scanning along the scanning direction by theoptical system. During scanning, in regions where the resin liquid is tobe cured, the ultraviolet light laser is turned on (in actuality, theshutter AOM is opened) and in regions where the resin liquid is not tobe cured, the ultraviolet light laser is turned off (in actuality, theshutter AOM is closed). When one scanning line finishes being scanned,the optical system is controlled to shift in phase by the amount of ascanning pitch and similar scanning is performed along the scanningdirection once again.

Note that if an ultraviolet light beam is scanned into a resin liquid,the light energy is gradually reduced by the resin liquid, somicroscopically speaking, sharp edged irradiated regions (that is,scanned and cured layers) are formed.

The scanned and cured layers of constant-height sections are formed inthis way. In successively building up the scanned and cured layers, whenforming a top scanned and cured layer, the beam intensity is made enoughso that the ultraviolet light beam is irradiated to the bottom layer aswell, that is, the depth of curing in the constant-height section iscontrolled to be greater than the built-up thickness, so as to improvethe bonding between layers.

When molding the next scanned and cured layer after molding a scannedand cured layer at one constant-height section, as mentioned above, theelevator 8 is made to descend. However, the descent of the elevator isaccompanied by an increase in the immersed volume of the elevator(mainly the support rods of the elevator), which causes photocurableresin liquid to overflow from the photocurable resin liquid tank. Anoverflow tank 13 is provided at the outside of the top edge 11 of oneside of the photocurable resin liquid tank to receive the overflow.

To return the photocurable resin liquid 2 which overflowed at the timeof the descent of the elevator once again to the photocurable resinliquid tank, provision is a recirculation pump 14 is provided betweenthe photocurable resin liquid tank 1 and the overflow tank 13. Note thatthis recirculation pump has the function of agitating an anaerobicphotocurable resin liquid in addition to that of returning theoverflowed photocurable resin liquid to the photocurable resin liquidtank.

However, in a conventional optical molding apparatus, since thephotocurable resin liquid is high in viscosity, when the elevator wasmade to descend, there was the problem of too much of an overflow. Thenarrower the gap between the elevator and the tank wall during thedescent of the elevator, the faster the flow rate of the photocurableresin liquid passing through it and the more the photocurable resinliquid flowing out into the overflow tank.

In particular, to maintain the liquid surface constant, in actualoperation, when the elevator was made to descend, the elevator wasintentionally immersed to more than the thickness of the scanned andcured layer next to be molded, then was made to ascend to the normalposition. This resulted in the problem that rippling of the liquidsurface was aggravated and the amount of photocurable resin liquid whichoverflowed increased as well.

This problem becomes more conspicuous the closer the elevator is to theliquid surface.

If the light beam scans with a low liquid surface in this way, since itis taught that the control of the optical system requires first that theliquid surface be at its normal position, the precision of the moldedmodel will be damaged. Therefore, in the past, scanning was delayeduntil the liquid surface rose due to the photocurable resin liquidreturned by the recirculation pump and after it was confirmed that theliquid surface had risen to its normal position, the next scanned andcured layer was molded. Accordingly, there was waste in the moldingtime. Improvement in molding time is provided by the present invention.

If the amount of the flow of the recirculation pump is increased, theliquid surface of the photocurable resin liquid tank could be quicklyrestored. However, if this measure is employed, there are the problemsthat rippling on the liquid surface becomes greater that requires timeto settle down. Also, by increasing the amount of liquid returned to thephotocurable resin liquid tank, the liquid surface rises above itsnormal position.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems in theprior art and has as its object quickly returning the position of theliquid surface of the photocurable resin liquid stored in thephotocurable resin liquid tank to a constant position so as to shortenthe molding time and improve the molding precision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the optical molding process ofthe present invention provides an optical molding process for obtaininga three-dimensional resin model by scanning a surface of a photocurableresin liquid accommodated in a photocurable resin liquid tank. The resinliquid is scanned by a light beam to cure the same and successivelybuilds up scanned and cured layers on an elevator. When the molding ofone constant-height section layer is ended and the elevator is made todescend, the overflow of the photocurable resin liquid from thephotocurable resin liquid tank to an overflow tank is temporarilyblocked and then after the blocking of the overflow is released, thenext constant-height section layer is molded.

The elevator descends to a depth greater than the thickness of theconstant-height section layer to be next molded, then ascends to thethickness position of the constant-height section layer.

Preferably, when blocking the overflow of the photocurable resin liquid,the recirculation between the photocurable resin liquid tank and theoverflow tank is stopped.

To achieve the above object, the optical molding apparatus of thepresent invention provides:

a photocurable resin liquid tank in which a photocurable resin liquid isfilled,

an overflow tank which accommodates photocurable resin liquid whichoverflows from the photocurable resin liquid tank,

an optical scanning unit for generating a light beam including awavelength suitable for curing the photocurable resin liquid,

an elevator unit for causing the cured resin produced by the irradiationof the light beam on the surface of the photocurable resin liquid toascend and descend,

a dam unit for blocking and releasing the photocurable resin liquidoverflowing from the photocurable resin liquid to the overflow tank, and

a control unit for controlling the blocking and releasing of theoverflow of the photocurable resin liquid by the dam unit.

Preferably, the control unit controls the elevator unit and the dam unitso as to temporarily block by the dam unit the overflow of thephotocurable resin liquid overflowing from the photocurable resin liquidtank to the overflow tank, release the blocking of the overflow by thedam unit, and then mold the next constant-height section layer.

Preferably, the optical molding apparatus of the present invention has arecirculation unit for returning to the photocurable resin liquid tankthe photocurable resin liquid overflowing from the photocurable resinliquid tank to the overflow tank. The control unit stops therecirculation unit when blocking the overflow of the photocurable resinliquid by the dam unit.

In the present invention, according to one method, when the formation ofthe scanned and cured layer at one constant-height section is ended, theelevator is made to descend by exactly the thickness of theconstant-height section to be next molded. Since the photocurable resinliquid overflows too much from the photocurable resin liquid tank to theoverflow tank when the elevator is made to descend, a dam unit is usedto temporarily block the overflow and further the recirculation unit isstopped to allow the liquid surface of the photocurable resin liquid tosettle, then the dam unit is opened so as to allow overflow of exactlythe amount of the photocurable resin liquid which should truly overflow.

A light beam including a wavelength suitable for curing the photocurableresin liquid is generated from the optical scanning unit and this lightbeam is made to scan the photocurable resin liquid contained in thephotocurable resin liquid tank. When the scanning at one constant-heightsection ends, the cured resin produced by the irradiation of the lightbeam is made to ascend and descend by the elevator unit. This routine isrepeated to successively build up scanned and cured layers.

When a signal is received at the control unit from the optical scanningunit to the effect that the scanning at one constant-height section hasended, a signal is output to the elevator unit to cause it to descend byexactly the thickness of the constant-height section to be next molded.

At the same time as this, a signal is output from the control unit tothe dam unit to temporarily block the photocurable resin liquidoverflowing from the photocurable resin liquid tank to the overflow tank(at the same time as this, preferably a signal is also output to therecirculation unit to stop).

In this state, the attenuation of the rise of the liquid surface due tothe descent of the elevator unit and the rippling of the liquid surfaceare awaited, then a signal is output from the control unit to the damunit to release the blocking of the overflow. Further, at the same time,preferably, a signal is output from the control unit to therecirculation unit to start the recirculation between the photocurableresin liquid tank and the overflow tank.

By this, only the amount of the photocurable resin liquid which shouldtruly overflow overflows from the photocurable resin liquid tank to theoverflow tank and as a result it is possible to immediately start thescanning at the next constant-height section. Further, the liquidsurface at the time of start of the scanning is secured at the normalliquid surface height and, further, rippling is suppressed as well, sothe precision of the molded model is remarkably improved.

In particular, the above-mentioned action also works remarkably wellwhen the descent operation of the elevator is selected to descend to adepth greater than the thickness of the constant-height section layer tobe next molded, then ascends to the thickness position of theconstant-height section layer.

In short, in the present invention, the position of the liquid surfaceof the photocurable resin liquid contained in the photocurable resinliquid tank can be quickly returned to its constant position and therebythe molding time can be shortened and molding precision improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional optical moldingapparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an optical molding apparatus of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the closed gate state in theembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the open gate state in theembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing routine in the controlunit according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to the drawings.

First, referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, an explanation will be made of theconstruction of an optical molding apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention.

The optical molding apparatus of the embodiment has a photocurable resinliquid tank 1. A photocurable resin liquid 2 contained in that tank ismaterial which undergoes addition polymerization and cures uponirradiation by light. For example, styrene, methyl methacrylate, vinylacetate, or other vinyl monomers undergo polymerization due toirradiation by light even without the presence of a photopolymerizationinitiator but in the presence of an ultraviolet light absorbingsensitizer or dye.

However, the type of the photocurable resin liquid 2 used in the presentinvention is not particularly limited. It may be any resin which isliquid in state when uncured and becomes solid due to curing. Further,light 5 irradiated (see FIG. 4) is also not particularly limited. Otherlight in addition to ultraviolet light may be selected in accordancewith the photocurable resin 2 used.

In the photocurable resin liquid tank 1, an elevator 8 is provided whichblocks the light beam and has a seat on which the cured resin sits. Thiselevator 8 can be made to ascend and descend in the photocurable resinliquid tank 1 by an elevator actuator 15 (only thread portion shown inFIG. 3). The command signal of the elevator actuator 15 is given by acontrol unit 6. The control unit 6 outputs a command signal to theelevator actuator 15 based on information to an optical scanning unit 4or from the optical scanning unit 4.

For example, when it is detected from the optical scanning unit 4 thatthe scanning at one constant-height section has ended, to shift to thescanning of the next constant-height section, a command signal is outputfrom the control unit 6 to the elevator actuator 15, by which theelevator actuator 15 causes the elevator 8 to descend by exactly apredetermined pitch (that is, the pitch being the thickness of built-uplayers at the constant-height sections).

In particular, to precisely manage the liquid surface 3, when causingthe elevator 8 to descend, it is preferable to cause the elevator 8 toonce descend deeper than the thickness of the next layer, then ascend tothe position of the layer thickness. By making it descend once deeper,photocurable resin liquid is sufficiently filled on the elevator, soeven if the viscosity of the photocurable resin liquid is high, theliquid surface on the elevator will not fall.

The optical scanning unit 4 according to the present invention iscomprised of a laser oscillator for generating an ultraviolet lightlaser or other light beam, an optical system for causing the light beamgenerated by the laser oscillator to scan the surface 3 of thephotocurable resin liquid in accordance with a predetermined path, andan optical controller for controlling the optical system.

The optical system is provided with a shutter device (AOM) forpassing/blocking the light beam and voltage applicators, galvanomirrors,etc. for changing the direction of the light beam, etc. and has thefunction of turning the light beam on and off, changing the intensity ofthe light beam, changing the path of the light, controlling the scanningspeed of the light beam, etc. A command signal is output to the opticalsystem from the optical system controller regarding the optical scanningconditions in accordance with a pre-instructed path.

Note that the operation of the optical scanning unit 4 in the presentinvention is based on the basic data on paths input in advance in thecontrol unit 6.

One side of the photocurable resin liquid tank 1 is formed so that itstop edge 11 is lower than the rest of the top edge. The top edge 11 isequal in level with the liquid surface 3. The photocurable resin liquid2 which overflows from the top edge 11 flows into the overflow tank 13provided at the outside and further is returned to the photocurableresin liquid tank 1 by recirculation piping and the recirculation pump14. Note that the recirculation system, including the recirculation pump14, is designed so that the liquid can flow only in the direction fromthe overflow tank 13 to the photocurable resin liquid tank 1. Backflowfrom the photocurable resin liquid tank 1 to the overflow tank 13 isprevented.

At the top edge 11 forming the liquid surface 3 is provided a gate 10which can be moved close to or away from the top edge 11. This gate 10is attached to a rod of the actuator 12, such as a hydraulic cylinder,whereby it can be moved reciprocatingly between a position for closingoff the top edge 11 and blocking the overflow from the photocurableresin liquid tank (see FIG. 3) and a position rising away from the topedge 11 for allowing overflow from the photocurable resin liquid tank(see FIG. 4). These gate 10 and actuator 12 constitute the dam unit ofthe present invention.

The operation of the actuator 12 is controlled by a command signal fromthe control unit 6. Specifically, when the elevator 8 is made todescend, the gate 10 is closed to block the overflow, then when theelevator 8 stops at its normal position, the gate 10 is opened to allowthe overflow.

Further, in relation to the control of the gate 10, in the presentembodiment, while the gate 10 is closed and the overflow blocked, acommand signal is output from the control unit 6 to control part of therecirculation pump 14 so that the recirculation pump 14 also stops. Whenopening the gate 10 to allow the overflow, a command signal is outputfrom the control unit 6 to the control part of the recirculation pump toonce again operate the recirculation pump 14.

The control unit 6 according to the present embodiment performs itscontrol in accordance with the desired resin model based on previouslyinput data while considering the relation with the elevator 8 (elevatorunit) and the optical scanning unit 4 and while considering the relationwith the gate 10 as mentioned above as well.

Note that in the present embodiment, the control unit of the elevatoractuator 15, the optical system controller, the control unit 6, andother data processing units were explained by specific examples ofseparate units, but this was to facilitate understanding of theindividual functions. Of course, in so far as these functions areprovided, these units may be combined in any fashion in data processingunits.

Next, the mode of operation will be explained.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing routine in the controlunit of the present embodiment.

In the conventional optical molding process, when the drawing at oneconstant-height section ended and the elevator was made to descend, theamount of the photocurable resin liquid which overflowed was left tochance, but in the present embodiment, when the elevator is made todescend, the gate 10 is closed to temporarily block the overflow andfurther the recirculation pump 14 is stopped to allow the liquid surface3 of the photocurable resin liquid tank 1 to settle, then the gate 10 isopened so as to allow overflow of exactly the amount of the photocurableresin liquid 2 which should truly overflow.

For the drawing at one constant-height section, first a light beam 5including a wavelength suitable for curing the photocurable resin liquid2 is generated from the optical scanning unit 4 and this light beam 5 ismade to scan the photocurable resin liquid 2 contained in thephotocurable resin liquid tank 1. At this time, the elevator 8 isimmersed from the liquid surface 3 by exactly the thickness of theconstant-height section to be drawn.

When the scanning at one constant-height section ends, the cured resin 7produced by the irradiation of the light beam 5 is made to descend bythe elevator 8. This routine is repeated to successively build upscanned and cured layers 7.

At this time, if a signal is received by the control unit 6 from theoptical scanning unit 4 to the effect that the drawing at oneconstant-height section has ended, a signal is output to the elevatoractuator 15 to cause descent by exactly the thickness of theconstant-height section to be next molded. At the same time as this, asignal is output from the control unit 6 to the actuator 12 totemporarily block the photocurable resin liquid 2 overflowing from thephotocurable resin liquid tank 1 to the overflow tank 13 and a signal isoutput to the recirculation pump 14 as well to stop (step 1).

The elevator 8 starts its descent (step 2). In this embodiment, thedescending operation of the elevator includes a descent once to a depthgreater than the thickness of the constant-height section layer to benext molded and then an ascent to the thickness position of theconstant-height section layer. By this, sufficient photocurable resinliquid is filled on the elevator, so even if the viscosity of thephotocurable resin liquid is high, due to the action of surface tensionetc., it is possible to prevent the liquid surface on the elevator fromfalling.

In this state, the operation is stopped until a predetermined timepasses (step 3). This is for reducing the rise of the liquid surface dueto the descent of the elevator 8 and the rippling of the liquid surface.Accordingly, in accordance with the invention, it is necessary to delayfor a reduced period of time compared to the prior art.

Next, since the rise of the liquid surface 3 and the rippling of theliquid surface 3 are reduced by step 3, a signal is output from thecontrol unit 6 to the actuator 12 to open the gate 10. At the same timeas this, a signal is output from the control unit 6 to the recirculationpump 14 to start the recirculation between the photocurable resin liquidtank 1 and the overflow tank 13 (step 4).

By this, just the amount of photocurable resin liquid which should trulyoverflow overflows from the photocurable resin liquid tank 1 to theoverflow tank 13. As a result, it is possible to immediately start thescanning at the next constant-height section (step 5). Further, theliquid surface 3 at the start of the scanning is secured at the normalliquid surface height and, further, rippling is suppressed, so theprecision of the model also remarkably rises.

Finally, when the drawing in all of the constant-height sections hasbeen finished, the elevator 8 is made to ascend and the molded model istaken out (steps 6 to 7).

Note that the embodiments explained above were described in a manner forfacilitating understanding of the present invention and were notdescribed to limit the invention. Therefore, the elements disclosed inthe embodiments include all design modifications and equivalents fallingunder the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, the gate 10 at step 1 need not be completely closed. Thatis, if it is closed so that there is some clearance between the top edge11 of the photocurable resin liquid tank 1 and the gate 10, the overflowof the photocurable resin liquid can be made appropriate, so there is nolonger a need for stopping the recirculation pump 14 at step 3.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to aspecific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:
 1. An optical molding apparatus comprising:aphotocurable resin liquid tank in which a photocurable resin liquid isheld; an overflow tank flow connected to said resin liquid tank in whichthe photocurable resin liquid overflowing from said photocurable resinliquid tank is collected; an optical scanning unit which generates alight beam including a wavelength suitable for curing the photocurableresin liquid, said light beam directed on said resin liquid in saidresin liquid tank; an elevator unit which makes a cured resin producedby the light beam on a surface of the photocurable resin liquid ascendand descend; a dam unit which blocks and releases the photocurable resinliquid overflowing from said photocurable resin liquid tank to saidoverflow tank, said dam unit having a movable gate positioned above atop edge of the resin liquid tank and including a means for selectivelyremoving the gate from said top edge; and a control unit having meansfor controlling the blocking and releasing of overflow of thephotocurable resin liquid by said dam unit.
 2. An optical moldingapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:said control unit has means forcontrolling said elevator unit for descending said elevator unit formolding a next constant-height section layer.
 3. An optical moldingapparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising:a recirculationmeans for returning the photocurable resin liquid in said overflow tankto said photocurable resin liquid tank.
 4. An optical molding apparatusas recited in claim 3, wherein:said control unit has means forcontrolling said recirculation means to stop said returning of saidresin liquid when blocking the overflow of the photocurable resin liquidby said dam unit.
 5. An optical molding apparatus comprising:aphotocurable resin liquid tank in which a photocurable resin liquid isheld; an overflow tank flow connected to said resin liquid tank in whichthe photocurable resin liquid overflowing from said photocurable resinliquid tank is collected; an optical scanning unit which generates alight beam including a wavelength suitable for curing the photocurableresin liquid, said light beam directed on said resin liquid in saidresin liquid tank; an elevator means for causing a cured resin producedby the light beam on a surface of the photocurable resin liquid todescend; a dam means for selectively restricting the photocurable resinliquid overflowing from said photocurable resin liquid tank to saidoverflow tank, said dam unit having a movable gate positioned above atop edge of the resin liquid tank and including a means for selectivelyremoving the gate from said top edge; and a control means forcontrolling the dam means.
 6. An optical molding apparatus as recited inclaim 5, wherein:said control means controls said elevator unit fordescending said elevator unit for molding a next constant-height sectionlayer.
 7. An optical molding apparatus as recited in claim 5, furthercomprising:a recirculation means for returning the photocurable resinliquid in said overflow tank to said photocurable resin liquid tank. 8.An optical molding apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein:said controlmeans controls said recirculation means to restrict said returning ofsaid resin liquid to said resin liquid tank when restricting theoverflow of the photocurable resin liquid by said dam unit.